Receive the latest new-england updates in your inbox

Gateway Teacher Accused of Sexting Student

(Published Thursday, May 4, 2017)

A part-time math teacher at Gateway Community College in New Haven is accused of sending inappropriate text messages and Instagram messages to one of his female students and he has been placed on administrative leave from his job as director of mathematics in Hamden Public Schools.

James O'Toole, 44, of Cromwell, was arrested and charged with second-degree harassment on Tuesday.

The superintendent of schools in Hamden said O'Toole has been the school district's director of mathematics for the past three years and has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the human resources department's investigation.

According to New Haven police, the 18-year-old victim went to authorities in November 2016 and said she had been receiving unwanted, sexually explicit messages from an anonymous sender. She told police she had been receiving the messages since mid-September.

After a six-month investigation, police determined the messages were being sent by O'Toole, the victim's math teacher at Gateway.

A statement from Gateway Community College says O'Toole taught one college-prep math course per semester at Gateway Community College per semester and has been "relieved of his duties." A protective order has been issued that forbids him from returning to campus in the future.

Hamden Supt. Jody Ian Goeler said the investigation does not include any Hamden Public School students or staff.